Ed Speleers is fast becoming a fixture of Sunday nights on ITV. Best-known for playing cheeky footman Jimmy in Downton Abbey, he's now back on our screens in new drama Beowulf: Return to the Shadowlands. We caught up with the 27-year-old actor to talk about his love of television, what he's learnt from working with some of Britain's finest stars and his role in the upcoming sequel to Alice in Wonderland.

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You've got so many exciting projects coming up in 2016 – how do you decide which ones to say yes to and which to say no to?

I never really say no. I believe that in order to for me to grow as an actor, I have to graft in as many different facets of the industry as possible. I would rather be out on set than sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring, hoping Scorsese is going to call. Naturally, it's a balancing act and I'd like to think the more experience I gain, the more work I get under my belt and then the better the opportunities become. You can only go with what's in front of you but you have to be savvy along the way.

You're starring in another TV series for ITV – Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands – what is it about TV that you like?

What I admire about TV is that as an actor you get to go on much more of an elongated journey. A character's story can take place over 10, 12 or 13 episodes in a series that allows you time to develop a person, potentially making the arc seem more gradual or subtle as a opposed to a 100-minute movie. Sometimes you get to inhabit these characters for a much longer period, especially if the show is a success – then you get to revisit them year in year out, potentially adding more layers or making adjustments along the way. But I by no means have a preference, both films and TV are great to work in, and I hope that I can do both for a long time to come.

How would you describe your character?

In Beowulf, I play Slean who is the son of the old thane Hrothgar (William Hurt). The truth is I should have been made thane after him but because my father hated me, he believed I was unworthy and weak and so made my mother Rheda (Joanne Whalley) thane instead. This rejection from a young age has had a massive impact on Slean's life. He always had to fight for his father's affections and when Hrothgar took Beowulf in as his own, he was shunted even further down the pecking order. He grew up with a loathing of Beowulf so his return is somewhat unwanted. His relationship with his mother is now under immense strain as she has been chosen to rule Herot ahead of him. So, at the beginning of the series, his head is a cloud of conflict. This pressure and torment in his mind only causes him greater issues whenever he's confronted with big decisions to make. He wants to rule and believes he can do a better job and his ambition may get the better of him.

How did you prepare for the role?

I knew it was going to be a very long and physically demanding shoot, so spent a lot of time getting as fit as possible, a lot of running along the river Tyne with the dog, combined with lots of bodyweight workouts that I was able to do anywhere if I didn't have access to the gym. My dog, Frank, and I went off exploring old Iron Age hill forts in order to get a sense of what it could have been like to inhabit a township in such a barren and dangerous period in history. Barbury Castle near Swindon, Cadbury Castle in Somerset and Maiden Castle in Dorset were all places we went to. It's one of the major perks of the job going off exploring worlds that I had no previous knowledge of, all in order create a new character, a new human; I love that side of it.

You've done a lot of period dramas – is there part of you that's longing to do something set in the present day?

I think people are fascinated by that world, especially in America, that part of British history offers a lot of intrigue to a huge demographic. Downton Abbey came on our screens at a time when people wanted to escape and maybe were even looking for some good old-fashioned nostalgia, and that was coupled with some excellent writing and a variety of characters, both upstairs and downstairs, set in a grand location. It was a joy to be a part of.

Have you watched the last series of Downton Abbey?

Not yet – since becoming a dad, time to watch anything is a fleeting luxury.

You also star in the upcoming sequel to Alice in Wonderland – what was it like working on such a big project?

It was a lovely thing to be a part of and to film scenes with Lindsay Duncan was an honour.

You've worked with some great British actors – including Mark Rylance, Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith – what have you learnt from them?

I'm not sure you can pin point what you learn along the way. My aim, when I get the chance to work with people I have a lot of respect for, is to observe them as much as possible, enjoy working with them and hope something useful is somehow sinking into my thick skull.

Are there any British actors you'd like to work with in the future?

There are so many – the ones who spring to mind right now are Olivia Colman, Judi Dench, Vicky McClure, Michael Fassbender, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan and Stephen Graham.

There's a generation of incredible British actors in Hollywood at the moment – what do you think is the key to their success?

I don't know, but I wish one of them would tell me.

When did you first know that you wanted to be an actor?

This may sound silly, but for as long as I can remember, I always wanted to act.

If you weren't an actor, what would you be doing?

I would be sulking about the fact that I wasn't an actor. I did always liked the idea of being a pilot, but I am a doughnut when it comes to maths.

What's your dream role?

I don't think I will know until it happens. I'm hoping there may be more than one...

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